Don’t Share Everything, Keep Some Scripture

Date: 23/11/25

REFERENCE: Proverbs 13:20 ERV – “He who walks with the wise will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Be blessed as you read. Amen. In today’s devotion, we will learn how to use wisdom to our advantage when it comes to sharing beneficial information. Here are some perspectives to consider:

A well-known clergyman once shared two out of five key points that could help his country overcome a major challenge. He held back the remaining three points, which contained the real solutions to the problem. To his surprise, just a few days later, two politicians appeared on a national television station and claimed they knew how to solve the issue, referencing the exact two solutions he had shared. When the host critically probed them on how they planned to implement the solutions, they were left speechless.

In the book of Ecclesiastes 9:13-16, we find a story about a small city under siege by a wicked king. Only a wise but poor man knew how to defend the city. He provided the solution, which was implemented, yet no one remembered him afterward. After hearing the pastor’s account, I began to understand why this wise man went unrewarded. He had given all the solutions at once—perhaps too openly or discreetly, we cannot be sure. However, what we do know is that others who were less wise took his solutions to the king, gained credit for the idea, and likely received significant rewards.

When you possess important information that could drastically change your life or benefit future generations, be cautious about sharing it indiscriminately. Share your knowledge, ideas, or vision only with those who can appreciate and value what you offer.

Do not reveal all your solutions at once; provide your counsel gradually. Ideas can be easily stolen. Consider the story of Joseph: when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, he carefully implemented his strategy afterward.

Another clergyman recounted, “Many years ago, when our church was still in its infancy, we faced serious flooding issues. We consulted a team of professionals who proposed complex solutions, many of which seemed overwhelming, and we struggled with how to pay them. One day, the head of our Sanctuary team, who was not an engineer, suggested, ‘Why don’t we channel the flooding water this way?’ We followed his advice, and that solved the problem! This cost-effective solution is still working today.”

LIFE LESSONS FROM TODAY’S STORY.

What is the difference between the wise poor man, Joseph, and the head of the Sanctuary? It lies in who they spoke to. The Bible advises us to “walk with the wise” to gain wisdom; associating with fools will lead us to folly. Even if you are wise, surrounding yourself with foolish companions can tarnish your own wisdom.

Joseph was rewarded and recognized as a high official in the kingdom, while the wise poor man received no recognition for saving his city. However, the head of the Sanctuary shared his idea with the senior pastor, and it proved successful. Imagine if he had shared it outwardly first and someone had appropriated his brilliant idea.

ASSIGNMENT: Reflect on your own tendencies. Do you share your ideas, vision, or knowledge excitedly with anyone, anywhere? Consider the story of the wise poor man, whose wisdom was taken from him.

Avoid airing your ideas on social media. If God has given you an idea, nurture it, let it grow, and allow it to mature. Showcase the final product, not the work in progress.

LET’S PRAY:Dear Almighty God, thank you for today’s devotion and for another opportunity to learn. We give You all the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.